
Even though it’s tough, he knows he has to get through his issues on his own without the temporary relief of a drink.Īs you can see, the meaning behind “The Whiskey Ain’t Workin'” is quite clear. Instead, our protagonist must face his problems head on – without relying on alcohol as a crutch. “I’m getting by somehow on matters unrelated To love and all its complications”

It may have helped him numb his pain before, but now it just makes everything worse. This chorus drives home how alcohol is no longer a solution for this character. “The whiskey ain’t workin’ anymore, There ain’t nothin’ like drinkin’ to make you drunk When your whole world is turning upside down” He knows she might come back someday, but until then he’s drowning his sorrows. The reason behind the narrator’s drinking problem becomes clear: he’s heartbroken over someone who left him. “She went away and left me blue, She said that she’d be back someday” He also has a little bit of money, but it’s not enough to solve his bigger issues. He has something that could potentially help him (the bottle of wine), but he doesn’t have the necessary tool (the corkscrew) to access it. These lines show that the narrator is out of options. “I got a bottle of wine, but I’ve got no corkscrew, I’ve got a little money, but it won’t do” The metaphor of a see-saw also implies that he can’t find any balance in his life. He’s using alcohol to cope with his problems, but it’s only making things worse. The narrator is stuck in a vicious cycle of drinking and feeling sorry for himself. The first two lines set the tone for the rest of the song. “Between the river of whiskey and the walls of beer, It’s been rough sailing on a see-saw of tears” The whiskey ain’t workin’ like it used to, but have you ever stopped to think about what those lyrics really mean? Let’s dive into the song and break down the meaning behind each line. Understanding the Meaning Behind the Whiskey Ain’t Workin Lyrics Step by Step The song was released in 1991 and became a hit, reaching #2 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The lyrics tell the story of a man who tries to drown his sorrows with whiskey but discovers it’s not helping him forget. “Whiskey Ain’t Workin'” is a song written and performed by country music artists Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart. Short answer: Whiskey Ain’t Workin’ lyrics
